Stereophile: The Apple and the Orange

I have not listened to a compact disc at home in months. It's kind of crazy. It kind of makes me feel weird about even having a compact disc player. At some point along the road, I figure I'll transform all of my compact discs into invisible bits and pieces on a hard drive and trade the physical objects for more vinyl.

More vinyl!

The transition from compact disc to vinyl did not come immediately for me, but it was pretty darn quick. At first, I still listened to certain CDs simply because I didn't have a vinyl counterpart. I have since augmented most of my favorite CDs with the more beautiful vinyl versions, so that problem is out the window. For awhile I would play compact discs while tending to other things, such as: washing the dishes or taking a crap. Like many other listeners, I reserved my vinyl sessions to dedicated listening. (As opposed to casual listening, the sort of listening we do when we're not calmly seated in our rooms, giving the music our complete, undivided attention. The term "serious listening" gives me the heebie-jeebies. What's so serious about listening to music on the hi-fi?)

Early on, if I was busy with other distractions, I figured it was just easier to listen to compact discs. It was just more convenient. Obviously, with a compact disc, there's no need to stop what you're doing every 20 minutes or so to change sides. But, guess what.

What?

I've found that I don't mind drying my hands and turning the water off when I hear that the record has come to an end. I don't mind leaving the stove for a moment. I don't mind putting down the mop. It's no big deal. I get other stuff done, and I still get to enjoy the experience of vinyl.

Amazing.

In our online forum, there had been a whole lot of hubbub regarding the sonic differences between compact discs and vinyl. I checked the official definition just to be sure. Hubbub: a confused din, especially a number of voices speaking at once. Yup, that's what it was. CDs have greater dynamic range, vinyl is more musical, CDs don't skip, vinyl is more musical, CDs are quieter, vinyl is more musical.

I have no opinion on the topic. To tell you the truth: It's been so long, I have no idea what compact discs sound like. And I sure as hell haven't stopped to compare the sound of a compact disc to that of a vinyl LP. (Eek. Again with the heebie-jeebies.) Also, I can't quite figure out how you'd go about comparing the two. I mean, alright, I can understand starting with a complete hi-fi system and swapping out the amplifier, for instance. Everything else (even the music!) remains the same, except for that amplifier. You listen, return the original amplifier to the system, and make comparisons. You listen some more, you swap again. By going back and forth and by having solid references, you come to some conclusions about the sound of those two amplifiers.

But say you try doing this with identical performances of the same piece of music recorded onto different formats. What are you actually comparing? Are you comparing compact disc to vinyl, or are you comparing one mastering session to another? Or are you comparing a CD player to a turntable?

Well, that would be like comparing apples to oranges. Wouldn't it?

Shit!

I can tell you this with certainty: Ever since I got into vinyl, my thirst for music—new music, old music, all sorts of music—has grown phenomenally, has been unquenchable.

Anyway, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are playing at the WaMu Theater this Saturday night. Me and couple of friends are going to the show. I'm hoping that the Bad Seeds perform most of Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!, their latest lusty, bloodthirsty album. I own it on both compact disc and vinyl. Fancy that. The apple and the orange. I don't know how they compare to one another, sonically. I love the vinyl more, I can tell you that. I haven't played the compact disc in months. Months! But, maybe, before the show this weekend, I'll do some serious listening.

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Reader Comments

Posted Tue Sep30, 2008, 7:05 PM — By vooj

This is a very good Nick Cave album and it took an impossibly long time to come out on domestic vinyl. Here in Toronto, it surfaced nearly 6 months ago on import vinyl which I bought. It was more expensive, but I have no regrets. If you are digging this one Stephen, you may want to try "Grinderman", Nick's 2007 release with the Bad Seeds. Noisy, rockin' and dark... You will not be disappointed. And enjoy the concert — I wish I could go!

Posted Wed Oct 1, 2008, 9:06 AM — By tom collins

do you think it will still be called the Wamu theatre by the time you get there?

Posted Wed Oct 1, 2008, 11:17 AM — By Christian

"I can tell you this with certainty: Ever since I got into vinyl, my thirst for music—new music, old music, all sorts of music—has grown phenomenally, has been unquenchable." Amen brother I couldn't agree with you any more.

Posted Wed Oct 1, 2008, 12:23 PM — By vooj

It is very refreshing to see the amount of new vinyl available today. The new indie stuff as well as the great jazz, older rock and classical reissues continues to excite. Having survived the CD era, my vinyl habit has continued unabated for 30 years. And this appetite shows no sign of letting up. What with the internet and the proliferation of used records available today, the music loving, vinyl enthusiast has many reasons to celebrate.

Posted Wed Oct 1, 2008, 12:53 PM — By Shazam

While I love my vinyl copies of my favorite albums more than their digital brethren, I listen to some obscure genres that have never (yet?) made it to vinyl. It bums me out.

Posted Thu Oct 2, 2008, 2:49 PM — By Doug Bowker

Yeah- it's funny that a serious critical mass seems to be forming with the vinyl thing and I find y LP vs CD ratio has gotten to be a 20 to 1 at this point. I also almost never by CDs anymore and also have been slowly replacing the faves with the vinyl version. For guys that claim to not like noise, the vinyl naysayers sure make a lot of it. Too bad for them, we're having more fun I think. :)

Posted Sun Oct 5, 2008, 9:34 PM — By Louis P.

Steven, If you sell the 'physical objects', then you have also sold your license, and shouldn't keep a copy on your hard drive or portable.

Posted Sun Oct 5, 2008, 10:00 PM — By Neon K

Got to second Louis P's comment. As much as the RIAA sucks, you can't sell the CDs just because you've ripped them.

Posted Mon Oct 6, 2008, 5:15 PM — By Trey

Are you guys sure about it being illegal to sell your physical media while still keeping the data? I am positive that the RIAA would like us to think that, but it runs counter to IP lawyers that have discussed physical media as a fungible commodity. Any IP lawyers around? Trey

Posted Mon Oct 6, 2008, 5:51 PM — By Neon K

Unless ofcourse you are selling your CD to buy exactly the same Album, but on L.P. then more Power to you!

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